The Golden Years Gone Wrong

In the stubborn little mountain town of Brindle Creek, retirement does not mean slowing down. It means having enough free time to accidentally destroy public property while trying to help.

The annual goat auction was supposed to be simple. Sell livestock. Raise money for the community hall roof. Eat pie. Go home with dignity mostly intact.

...

Vernon Thought We Meant Full Throttle - Book 2
The Golden Years Gone Wrong Series
by Trudy Myrland

Race day was supposed to bring the town together. Instead, it nearly required official county intervention.

Timberline Speedway has survived dust storms, engine fires, trailer pileups, livestock escapes, generator failures, and one unforgettable...

THAT BOAT WAS SUPPOSED TO STAY PUT

The fishing trip escaped before the fishermen did.
The plan sounded simple enough.
Spend a peaceful weekend at the lake. Catch a few fish. Tell a few stories. Eat too much food. Pretend everyone still has the energy they had thirty years ago.

Then the boat leaves.
Not with the fishermen.
Not with the supplies.
Not...

The Deer Cart Chose Violence

The people of Brindle Creek have a long history of turning ordinary situations into public disasters.
Most of the time, they mean well.
Most of the time, that does not help.

When a routine community project begins with a perfectly harmless deer cart, nobody expects trouble. After all, it is just a simple cart. It has...

THAT WASN’T THE CORRECT HIGHWAY
Six RVs. One wrong turn. Endless regret.

The plan was simple.
Drive to the Silver Pines RV Rally & Retirement Expo.
Set up camp.
Attend a few seminars.
Maybe win a campground award.
Possibly buy something nobody needed.

Instead, six retirees from Brindle Creek miss one highway exit and accidentally transform...

MAVIS BACKED INTO THE SHERIFF’S TRAILER
Technically, she warned everyone to move first.

The Brindle Creek Founders Festival was supposed to celebrate local history, community pride, and a weekend of wholesome family entertainment.

Instead, Mavis Tolliver accidentally backed her truck directly into Sheriff Colton Smith’s department trailer in front...

Nobody Expected The Pie Auction Riot
Things turned violent shortly after the rhubarb bidding started.
The annual Brindle Creek Pie Auction Fundraiser is supposed to be simple.

• Bake pies.
• Award ribbons.
• Raise money for Community Hall roof repairs.
• Go home happy.

Unfortunately, nobody accounted for ninety-three pie entries, decades of competitive...

The Timber Festival Lost Containment
Nothing says community spirit like competitive chainsaws.

The annual Timber Festival is supposed to be Brindle Creek’s proudest tradition. Three days of chainsaw carving, lumberjack competitions, giant logging trucks, horse pulling contests, log rolling, axe throwing, hot saw races, and enough community spirit...

THE RUMMAGE SALE NEEDED TRAFFIC CONTROL
Half the town came shopping. The other half came arguing.

The annual Brindle Creek Community-Wide Rummage Sale was supposed to be simple. People would clean out their garages. Neighbors would buy each other’s junk. The Community Hall would raise a little money. Everyone would go home happy.

That plan lasted...

Nobody Planned For That Many Tourists
The Golden Years Gone Wrong - Book 10

Brindle Creek finally decides to do something sensible. That was the first mistake.

The town launches its very first Tourism Festival expecting a pleasant weekend of family entertainment, local attractions, and modest crowds. What arrives instead are busloads of visitors,...

THE POTATO CANNON ALARMED SEVERAL COUNTIES
Somewhere between “science” and “felony,” things escalated.

The residents of Brindle Creek have survived runaway goats, overcrowded festivals, public competitions, internet fame, and enough community disasters to fill several filing cabinets at the Sheriff’s Department. Unfortunately, none of those...

NOBODY EXPECTED THE BANJO FIGHT
Things got competitive shortly after the third chorus.

The Brindle Creek Community Music Jam was supposed to be a relaxing evening of bluegrass music, storytelling, local talent, and small-town fun.

That plan lasted approximately twenty minutes.

Before the first set is finished, Charlotte Bell’s carefully organized...